"You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you."
No, that isn't a quote from an ancient philosopher or a classic author. It's from Vice President Kamala Harris .
As rumors swirled in recent weeks over President Joe Biden's ability to win and complete a second term in office, and following the recent news of him stepping down as the Democratic nominee , Harris (as well as the internet-famous coconut tree ) has drawn increased interest in the political sphere as voters look to her as Biden's potential replacement on the Democratic side of the ticket.
But what does the Harris' "coconut tree" quote mean, and why has it become a meme? Here's what to know.
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What is the Kamala Harris 'coconut tree' meme?
Harris uttered the now-famous phrase on May 10, 2023, while making remarks swearing in the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.
Before, Harris spoke how "everything is in context," and about her mother used to give her a hard time, before saying the phrase.
The quote perhaps stuck with people more than Harris' others from the many appearances she makes due to the absurd image of falling out of a coconut tree, and her sudden tone shift from joking to completely serious when she added, "you exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you."
It took nearly a year for the quote to catch on online, and its memefication arose in full force after Biden's disastrous performance in debate against former President Donald Trump in June. Since the debate, as some people online and some lawmakers began to publicly urge Biden to drop out of the race, many pointed to Harris, already the vice president, as a suitable replacement.
Google searches for the phrase "coconut tree," as well as corresponding searches about the meme and other quotes from Harris, began to rise around June 28, according to Google Trends data, days after the Biden-Trump debate and as calls for Biden to step out of the race began to grow.
Social media embraces the 'coconut tree' meme
Whether some of these social media posts were made ironically or if they are in full support of Harris taking over Biden's spot in the presidential race, the number of memes referencing the "coconut tree" skyrocketed in 2024.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?' Kamala Harris meme resurfaces after Biden drops out
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